"Trash, the times have changed!"
Erni swiftly pulled out her flintlock and fired at the head of the charging ronin.
Bang!
At such close range, the lead ball directly peeled away the ronin's skull.
Chen Xiaoxue swung her cleaver, severing a ronin's arm with one strike and taking off the head of the screaming man with the next.
Nishi nimbly dodged between the ronin, kicking one in the lower regions and smearing a handful of lime into another's face. Her combat methods were—to put it mildly—questionable; calling her underhanded was practically a compliment.
Cyan didn't even need to make a move. These women, whom the ronin had viewed as defenseless, slaughtered them until only the leader remained.
"Ya!!!"
The ronin leader let out a shout as if to bolster his courage and launched an attack at Cyan.
Cyan's hand seemed to flicker. In the next second, with a dull thud, a fist-print appeared on the leader's head. His skull was deformed, his face caved in. His body remained in a downward hacking posture for a moment before collapsing to the ground.
"Not worth a slash."
Cyan flicked the blood off her fist. Such trashy enemies weren't even worth drawing the demonic blade for.
Upon the leader's death, a Black Iron Card dropped.
[Used Black Iron Card. Obtained 100 Survival Points, Salmon Sushi.]
[Salmon Sushi]
[Type: Recovery Item]
[Attributes: Restores 40 Health Points.]
[Note: A bandit chief named Kyoshiro would go to a sushi shop and order salmon sushi after every robbery.]
After killing this group of ronin bandits, the items looted allowed several survivors to add weapons to their inventory that could be exchanged for reward points.
[Ronin Katana]
[Type: Weapon]
[Attributes: Attack Power 13–21.]
[Equip Requirements: None]
[Note: This is a katana meticulously crafted by a swordsmith. It is clear the owner cherished this weapon. Can be exchanged for 50 Survival Points in the Survival Space.]
This group of ronin was clearly different from the ones active in the mountains; their weapons weren't worn out, but sharp-looking katanas with decent attributes.
Clang!
While Erni and Ai Asama were examining the katanas, Cyan suddenly drew her demonic blade, looking warily at a nearby tree.
"Oh my~! I've been discovered. I thought you beautiful ladies might need help, but it seems I worried for nothing." A man with five swords on his back and two at his waist—one being an odachi—leapt down from the tree. A charming smile sat on his handsome face, though his strange hairstyle made it look like he had a sideways broom resting on his head.
"Is that so..."
Cyan sheathed her blade, having no intention of chatting with him.
"This humble one is Yoshitora. Might I ask where you beautiful ladies are headed?" Yoshitora's gaze landed on Cyan, looking at her with interest.
What a spirited and heroic young lady... a pity about the arm... is this the beauty of imperfection?
Although Cyan's appearance was quite masculine, Yoshitora saw through her true gender at a glance, his eyes carrying a trace of regret as he looked at her stump.
"Edo."
Kagaribi stepped in front of Cyan, looking warily at the man with seven swords.
"I see... I wonder, have you heard of any major events in Hinowa recently?" Yoshitora asked casually, not really expecting to gather useful information from them.
"Major events? We don't know. We just came from a village in the mountains and are unaware of recent happenings," Kagaribi said calmly. She suspected Yoshitora's identity might be related to the Shogunate.
Hearing Kagaribi's words, the others naturally had no intention of speaking.
As modern people, Erni, Ai Asama, and Chen Xiaoxue had no desire to talk to someone with a hairstyle that made them question his sanity. No matter how handsome he was, staring at a broom-head was just too difficult. Especially since the owner didn't seem to realize how ugly it was.
"In that case, I won't disturb you further." Yoshitora smiled and walked away quickly.
"That broom-head is so ugly!"
Ai Asama whispered, voicing everyone's inner thoughts.
Yoshitora, who hadn't walked far, slipped and nearly fell face-first. For the first time, he hated his overly keen hearing, and he began to wonder.
Is it really that ugly?
Yoshitora touched his hair, thinking that his six lovers all found it handsome. He decided those women back there just had poor taste.
Edo, a city near the sea with a port and close commercial ties with foreign countries, was undoubtedly the most prosperous place in Japan. It was also the seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Even if Gaoh, the protector of Hinowa, began attacking the Shogunate, Edo would likely be spared from the flames of war.
This was because of the presence of Westerners in Edo. Any harm to them would give European nations an excuse to attack Japan.
However, in the story of Samurai Shodown V, Gaoh's rebellion is ultimately stopped. Even after selling his soul to the Emperor of Darkness for power, he is defeated by the player character.
In the canon plot, he is defeated by Yoshitora Tokugawa. Note: defeated, not killed. Yoshitora restores Gaoh's humanity, leading him to join the Shogunate to defend against foreign threats alongside Haohmaru, Hanzo Hattori, and Jubei Yagyu.
(The plot of Samurai Shodown VI is a different story, occurring in what can be considered a parallel universe.)
Walking the streets of Edo, the group looked around curiously. Erni's Western appearance attracted much attention.
Ai Asama felt as though she had traveled back to ancient Japan—which was true, even if it was the ancient Japan of a game world. After Kagaribi bought a house with a courtyard, the group spent a few peaceful days there.
As if sensing something, on the final day, Kagaribi took out a lucky charm. It was embroidered with a four-leaf clover, the leaves so lifelike they looked real.
"You're about to leave, right? Cyan."
"..."
Cyan couldn't answer. She didn't know if she would ever return to the world of Samurai Shodown.
"I made this charm myself. I hope it keeps you safe. Thank you for taking care of me on the road, Cyan." Kagaribi placed the charm around Cyan's neck and gave her a hug.
"Don't worry about me. With my skills, I can live well in Edo."
"Mm."
Cyan responded, patting Kagaribi on the back.
Standing nearby, Erni, Ai Asama, and Chen Xiaoxue remained silent. They knew they would soon leave this world and return to the Survival Space. They felt excitement mixed with the fear of the unknown.
[Kagaribi's Friendship]
[Type: Special Accessory]
[Attributes: Luck +1, Damage Taken -10.]
[Special: 1% chance to immune a fatal blow. Cooldown: 24 hours.]
[Equip Requirements: None]
[Note: A charm meticulously sewn by Kagaribi. She hopes it will keep you safe.]
[Note: This equipment is soul-bound to Survivor No. 11766. Cannot be traded; destroyed upon death.]
"I will cherish it."
Cyan looked down, touching the charm.
At night, with one hour left until departure, Cyan and Nishi left Kagaribi's house. Shortly after, Erni left, followed by Ai Asama and Chen Xiaoxue.
"Master, what is the Survival Space like?"
Nishi walked beside Cyan with her hands behind her head.
"I don't know."
Cyan had never been there, so she couldn't answer.
"Eh? You don't know? But they said you were a 'Veteran'—one of those survivors who has been through several games."
Nishi felt cheated. Usually, she was the one doing the cheating; being tricked was a first for her.
"This is my first survival game. I've never been to the Survival Space."
"So we just have to wait to find out what that mysterious place is like." Nishi rubbed her hands together, a hint of excitement on her face.
"It's a dangerous place. You shouldn't go."
Cyan didn't want Nishi to follow her. She remembered the two "Veterans"—they were strong, yet they died at the hands of a wounded Zankuro and Basara. Having died once herself, Cyan knew how precious life was. She didn't want Nishi to experience death, even if she could be resurrected with Survival Points.
[Survivor No. 11766, your servant Nishi's loyalty has decreased by 5. Current loyalty: 80.]
?
Receiving the notification, Cyan mentally typed a question mark, looking at Nishi with a hint of confusion in her silver eyes.
"Master is a big idiot! I have nowhere else to go! Are you trying to drive me away?" Nishi shouted angrily, her chestnut eyes wide and her round face puffed out.
[Survivor No. 11766, your servant Nishi's loyalty has decreased by 10. Current loyalty: 70.]
"I'm not driving you away."
Realizing she had said the wrong thing, Cyan felt Nishi's anger. Nishi huffed and turned her head away. Cyan had never comforted anyone before, so she just watched Nishi's anger, unsure of what to do.
"By the way, Master, can the Survival Space fix your arm?" Nishi asked, looking at the stump.
"Maybe."
Cyan wasn't sure either. They would find out once they returned.
[Survival Mission 2: Survive in the world of Samurai Shodown V for 10 days.]
[Mission Completed.]
[Regression to Survival Space in 10 seconds.]
After a brief ten seconds, Cyan and Nishi turned into white light and vanished. No one noticed their disappearance.